Go Away - 10/28/2003

October 27, 2003 9:00 PM

Passengers wait for their train to leave for Mumbai. India has an extensive and excellent train system and Richie and I did most of our traveling across this massive country by rail. Time and again throughout this year-long trip we've found that traveling by train is not only a comfortable way to see a country but also a good way to meet local people. less

Passengers wait for their train to leave for Mumbai. India has an extensive and excellent train system and Richie and I did most of our traveling across this massive country by rail. Time and again throughout ... more

Photo: Winda Benedetti, Special To Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Passengers wait for their train to leave for Mumbai. India has an...photo-861645.8810 - |ucfirst

This trio of high-spirited "female-men" began very persistently pestering me for rupees during a rail ride to Mumbai. In India, they're known as hijras, which translates to mean hermaphrodite or eunuch. Considered a third sex, some are born intersexual and some are castrated. In India, it's considered bad luck to turn these performers away from important events like weddings. I agreed to give them money but only if they posed for a few photographs. They were thrilled to oblige and, since I had a digital camera, were even more thrilled to get a peek at their pictures right there on the spot. less

This trio of high-spirited "female-men" began very persistently pestering me for rupees during a rail ride to Mumbai. In India, they're known as hijras, which translates to mean hermaphrodite or eunuch. ... more

Photo: Winda Benedetti, Special To Seattle Post-Intelligencer

This trio of high-spirited "female-men" began very...photo-861646.8810 - |ucfirst

Passengers wait for their train to leave for Mumbai. India has an extensive and excellent train system and Richie and I did most of our traveling across this massive country by rail. Time and again throughout this year-long trip we've found that traveling by train is not only a comfortable way to see a country but also a good way to meet local people. less

Passengers wait for their train to leave for Mumbai. India has an extensive and excellent train system and Richie and I did most of our traveling across this massive country by rail. Time and again throughout ... more